FANCIES IN CHILDREN'S NAMES.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18266, 27 December 1924, Page 2

FANCIES IN CHILDREN'S NAMES.

WHAT THE BIRTH REGISTER SHOWS. The pendulum of parental choice in children's names has swung very decisively towards the fanciful this year, and the old fashioned, well-used family names seem to , have been almost completely ignored by proud parents, that is, if the register of births at Wellington can be taken as a criterion (says the "Dominion"). Plain "John," so popular even until quite recently, has now been superseded by ''Pereival" or " Montgomery,'' or some other name that "sounds better." The hosts of little "Marys" that used to crowd the birth register are no more, while the "Shirleys," ''Patricias," "Ngairies," and "Valeries" are there in their hundreds. The influence of the "movies" has not been so pronounced this year as last year, when all the picture stars had their names given to young hopefuls. Just after the All Blacks had trounced Wales, there came into the world a little boy, and his parents decided on "Porter" as a Christian name. This, of course, might be due to family fondness for certain names, but it is more probable that the name came to be bestowed on the child because of the football match. At all events, there it is in the register: " 'Porter,' December Ist, 1924," just after the All Blacks had disposed of the Welshmen. Two days before the defeat of the British Labour Government there came a little "Ramsay" o.uietly on to the register, and there he must remain, even though numerous "Baldwins" have since appeared in the pages of the big book of names. It is noteworthy that when Mr Lloyd George wa.s in power the Wellington register not infrequently recorded the two names for new arrivals. Flowers for girls' names havo practically disappeared. Even last vca.r there were quite a number, but a close perusal of the register this vear shows only a very occasional little "Lilv," "Rose," "Violet." or "Daisv."